Agricultural baler platform

ABSTRACT

An agricultural baler comprising a baler mechanism and a carriage assembly coupled to the baler mechanism. A platform is coupled to at least one of the baler mechanism and the carriage assembly. The platform is configured to move a bale from the baler mechanism to the carriage assembly and remain tilted until the bale is moved onto the carriage assembly at least substantially out of contact with the platform. A sliding mechanism is coupled to the carriage assembly. The sliding mechanism is configured to move the bale onto the carriage assembly.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to crop harvesting systems.More particularly, the disclosure relates to an agricultural baler.Specifically, the disclosure relates to a platform apparatus to move abale produced by an agricultural baler.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

A cut and raked crop that has been dried or otherwise prepared in afield, such as hay, straw or other agricultural material is oftengathered, compressed and shaped by an agricultural baler. There areseveral types of balers that are commonly used, each resulting indifferent types of bales. Some are rectangular and some are cylindricalof various sizes. Bales can be bound with netting, strapping, wire ortraditionally twine using a tie system to connect ends of the twine.Large square balers often use a double tie knotting system or double tieknotter. The double tie knotter ties two knots, one to complete theprevious bale, and another to start the next or current bale. Twine isthen directly fed out of the twine spools during bale formation. Atypical large square bale weighs between 800 and 1,600 pounds and isoften dropped in the field by the baler for later retrieval, as thebaling system proceeds though the field.

A baler that produces small rectangular bales, often also called squarebales, produce bales that are typically wrapped with two strands ofknotted twine. The bales are light enough for easy handling andtypically weigh from 40 to 80 pounds each. A bale is formed by a seriesof processes performed by the square baler including lifting thewindrowed material, hereinafter referred to as hay, by way of the pickupportion of the baler. The hay is then moved by way of an auger into achamber that has a feeding fork. The feeding fork moves the hay in frontof a sliding plunger with a cutting edge that cuts the hay and moves thehay in the chamber into previously packed hay therein causing the hay tobe compressed. Once a predetermined amount of hay has been gathered inthe chamber, as measured by the amount being extruded through theopening at the rear of the chamber, a mechanism is triggered causing thetwine to be threaded through the hay, cut and then knotted therebyforming the bale and one portion of the twine is retained to start toreceive hay for the next bale. As the bales are moved through thecompression channel out to the rear of the baler, the baled hay is thenoften loaded onto a wagon, dropped into the field for later retrieval ormoved to a towed bale accumulator.

Round balers rotate gathered crop material until a sufficiently largeenough cylinder-shaped “round” or “rolled” bale is formed and that baleis secured with twine or wrapping. The back of the baler swings open,allowing the bale to be discharged. Variable-chamber balers typicallyproduce bales from 48 to 72 inches in diameter and up to approximately62 inches in width. The bales can weigh from 1,000 to 2,200 pounds,depending upon size, material, and moisture content.

Crop accumulators are known which group the bales while the balingoperation is underway. When the crop accumulator is full, it is commonto dump the harvested crop in the location where it is full. Forexample, a crop accumulator, which looks somewhat like a trailer isconnected directly behind the baler and may collect and transport threeround bales, allowing groupings of up to four bales at a time (countingthe bale in the baler). These type of crop accumulators, accumulate thebales in a sequential manner relative to the general direction of travelof the baler. The crop accumulator may have a floor chain system inorder to move the bale that it receives from the baler to a sequentialposition on the accumulator. These crop accumulators may, depending uponthe load distribution, produce either an upward or downward force at theconnection point of the baler, which thereby imparts a moment or torqueon the baler, which can result in an upward force being applied to thehitch of the tractor and thereby cause instability or damage to thebaler's hitch.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one embodiment, an agricultural baler having a direction of travel isdisclosed. The agricultural baler comprises a baler mechanism and acarriage assembly coupled to the baler mechanism. A platform is coupledto at least one of the baler mechanism and the carriage assembly. Theplatform is configured to move a bale from the baler mechanism to thecarriage assembly and remain tilted until the bale is moved onto thecarriage assembly at least substantially out of contact with theplatform. A sliding mechanism is coupled to the carriage assembly. Thesliding mechanism is configured to move the bale onto the carriageassembly.

In another embodiment, a carriage assembly is disclosed. The carriageassembly is coupled to an agricultural baler mechanism having adirection of travel. The carriage assembly comprises a bale carriagecoupled to the baler mechanism and a platform coupled to at least one ofthe baler mechanism and the bale carriage. The platform is configured tomove a bale from the baler mechanism to the bale carriage and remaintilted until the bale is moved onto the bale carriage at leastsubstantially out of contact with the platform.

In yet another embodiment, a method for moving a bale from anagricultural baler to a carriage assembly is disclosed. The carriageassembly is coupled to a baler mechanism having a direction of travel.The method comprises repositioning a platform to move a bale from thebaler mechanism to the carriage assembly. The platform is coupled to atleast one of the baler mechanism and the carriage assembly.

Other features and aspects will become apparent by consideration of thedetailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a crop harvesting system including oneembodiment of a carriage assembly for moving a bale.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the crop harvesting system of FIG. 1 with someparts removed.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the crop harvesting system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the crop harvesting system of FIG.1 showing an extending section in an extended mode.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the crop harvesting system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the crop harvesting system of FIG.1 showing the baler mechanism in an open position without a bale.

FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the crop harvesting system of FIG.1 showing a bale being moved.

FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the crop harvesting system of FIG.1 showing a bale being moved further.

FIG. 9 is another perspective view of the crop harvesting system of FIG.1 showing a bale being moved completely to the left.

FIG. 10 is a partially-sectioned perspective view of the slidingmechanism of the crop harvesting system of FIG. 1 with the floor of thebale carriage removed.

FIG. 11 is a partially-sectioned perspective view from the underside ofthe baler showing a portion of the sliding mechanism of FIG. 10 with thefloor of the bale carriage removed.

FIG. 12 is a partial schematic side view of the crop harvesting systemof FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a partial perspective view of a crop harvesting system ofFIG. 1 with some parts removed.

Before any embodiments are explained in detail, it is to be understoodthat the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and the arrangement of components set forth in thefollowing description or illustrated in the following drawings. Thedisclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or ofbeing carried out in various ways. Further embodiments of the inventionmay include any combination of features from one or more dependentclaims, and such features may be incorporated, collectively orseparately, into any independent claim.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a baling system 10 comprising a tractor 12 and abaler 14. The baler 14 is connected to the tractor 12 via a hitch 16thereby providing towing for the movement of the baler 14. The baler 14includes a baler mechanism 18, a crop accumulator 20, and at least oneground engaging support 22. With reference to FIG. 2, the balermechanism 18 receives crop material as the baling system 10 traversesthe ground and forms a bale 23 from the crop material.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, the crop accumulator 20 includes atleast one ground engaging support 24, structural members 26, and acarriage assembly 28. The carriage assembly 28 includes a bale carriage29. The ground engaging supports 22, 24 may be in the form of wheels andaxles as illustrated or in some other form (e.g., a track system). Thestructural members 26 may be in the form of a beam and may be referredto as a walking beam construct. The baler mechanism 18 is connected tothe structural members 26 at baler connections 30, thereby transferringmost of the weight of the baler mechanism 18 to the structural members26. The structural members 26 are pivotally coupled to the groundengaging support 22 about a pivotal axis 32. The ground engaging support24 is rotationally coupled to the structural members 26 about arotational axis 34. The baler connection 30 is shown located between thepivotal axis 32 and the rotational axis 34. The baler connection 30 is apivoting connection although it is also contemplated that balerconnection 30 could also be a non-pivoting connection. It is alsocontemplated that the baler connection 30 may be located proximate tothe pivotal axis 32. The baler connection 30 is located in a foredirection 36 from rotational axis 34 and generally in an aft direction38 of pivotal axis 32.

The baler 14 is supported primarily by way of the ground engagingsupports 22, 24 with the weight of the baler mechanism 18 beingtransferred to the structural members 26 by way of the baler connection30. The Center of Gravity (“CG”) 40 of the baler mechanism 18 isgenerally in line with the pivotal axis 32 and the CG 40 will shift asthe amount of crop material increases in the baler mechanism 18 and asthe baler mechanism 18 discharges a bale 23 onto the bale carriage 29.The structural members 26 function as walking beams with the weight ofthe baler mechanism 18 used to counteract the weight of the bale(s) 23on the bale carriage 29. The CG 40 is generally fore of baler connection30. This arrangement effectively eliminates an upward force beingtransmitted through the baler connection 30 which thereby eliminates thepotential upward force that would occur at the hitch 16 as bales 23 areformed and discharged to the bale carriage 29 and ultimately to theground if the baler connection 30 were not there.

Although the baler connection 30 is shown apart from the pivotal axis32, it is also contemplated that the baler connection 30 may beproximate to the pivotal axis 32. Further, the pivotal axis 32 is shownas being coaxial with a rotational axis 42 of the ground engagingsupport 22. However, it is also contemplated that the pivotal axis 32may be generally proximate to the rotational axis 42, but not coaxiallylocated.

The bale carriage 29 is pivotally connected to the structural members 26about a carriage axis 44 to thereby allow the bale carriage 29 to pivotto dump the bales 23 that are carried thereby (FIG. 13). The balecarriage 29 is moved by a movement device 45. The movement device 45 maybe controlled by a manually adjustable control 53 (FIG. 12) (e.g.,hydraulic control valve) or may be controlled electrically, orpneumatically. The movement device 45 comprises an actuator 46. Theactuator 46 may be hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, or other actuator.The actuator 46 is operable to move a pivot arm 47. The pivot arm 47 isoperable to move a connector link 48 that is operable to move the balecarriage 29 about the carriage axis 44. Other movement devices 45 arecontemplated by this disclosure (e.g., electronic actuator directlyconnected to the bale carriage 29). The axes 32, 34, 42 and 44 are eachshown as substantially parallel to each other and being normal to theview shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a rear view of the baler 14, withthe bale carriage 29 in a retracted mode ready for travel down a road,or prior to any bales 23 being formed and placed on the bale carriage29. The bale carriage 29 has a fixed section 49 and two extendingsections 50, 51, which extend/retract along a direction 52. Thedirection 52 is substantially normal to the fore direction 36 (FIG. 2),with the fore direction 36 being a travel direction for the baler 14.The extending sections 50, 51 are shown retracted within portions of thefixed section 46. Although it is also contemplated that parts of theextending sections 50, 51 could also envelop portions of the fixedsection 46, when in the retracted state. The interaction of theextending sections 50, 51 with the fixed section 46 is such that atelescoping relationship exists as well as a nesting relationship as canbe seen in subsequent figures.

With reference to FIG. 4, there is shown a view of the baler 14 with theextending section 51 in an extended mode and the extending section 50 ina retracted mode. Although fixed section 49 is referred to as fixed, itnonetheless pivots along with extending sections 50, 51 with the rest ofthe bale carriage 29 about the carriage axis 44 (FIG. 2).

Referring to FIG. 5 there is shown a bale sliding mechanism 54 and aplatform 56. The bale sliding mechanism 54 comprises a pusher 58 (FIG.10). The bale sliding mechanism 54 is configured to slide a bale 23along the direction 52. The sliding mechanism 54 is operable to move abale 23 in the appropriate direction so that the bale 23 ends upsubstantially supported on either extending section 50, 51. The controlof the sliding mechanism 54 is coordinated with the movement of a bale23 onto the bale carriage 29 and operates to position a bale 23 on eachof extending sections 50, 51.

The platform 56 is situated as being in a substantially flat orientationand is in position for a bale 23 to be dropped thereon by the balermechanism 18. The platform 56, which can also be thought of as a tiltingtable, receives a bale 23 and when the back portion of baler mechanism18 opens, the platform 56 tilts and/or lifts the bale 23 in a generallyaft direction 38 (FIG. 2) to move the bale 23 onto the bale carriage 29as can be seen in some of the subsequent figures.

With reference to FIG. 6 there is shown another view of the slidingmechanism 54 and the platform 56. The platform 56 is shown tilted in arearward direction and is configured to position a bale 23 so that itcan be slid in the direction 52 without the side of the bale 23 gettingcaught on the fore part of the bale carriage 29. This is accomplished bypositioning the platform 56 such that it pushes the bale 23 far enoughback so that as the sliding mechanism 54 moves the bale 23, the bale 23does not initially contact the fore part of the bale carriage 29. Thismay be considered a type of shingling maneuver so that the bale 23proceeds along the bale carriage 29 without undue restriction or damageto bale wrap.

Referring to FIGS. 7-9, there is shown a sequence of positions of thebale 23, as the bale 23 is positioned onto the bale carriage 29 by theplatform 56 and moved by the sliding mechanism 54. Once the bale 23 ispositioned, as shown in FIG. 9 the rear portion of the baler mechanism18 is closed and another bale 23 is produced. When the next bale 23 isproduced, the sliding mechanism 54 moves the bale 23 onto the extendingsection 51. When a third bale is produced, the platform 56 moves thatbale onto the bale carriage 28 and the bale carriage 29 is thenselectively tilted about the carriage axis 44 to dump the bales 23 ontothe ground in a singular location for ease of further moving. Thedumping of the bales 23 can of course proceed as needed without the needto produce three bales 23. The platform 56 may be configured to move inconjunction with the bale carriage 29 as the bale carriage 29 tilts toensure that the middle bale is also dumped onto the ground. The platform56 may be coupled to the bale carriage 29 about a pivoting connection.

With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, there is shown additional details ofthe sliding mechanism 54 by way of a partially-sectioned perspectiveview with the floor of the bale carriage 29 removed. The slidingmechanism 54 includes a pusher 58, movement devices 60, 62, a flexiblelink 64, and sprockets 66, 68. The movement devices 60, 62 are actuatorsand are shown here as hydraulic cylinders under the control of a controlsystem (not shown). The flexible link 64 is shown as a chain, whichengages the sprockets 66, 68. Ends of the flexible link 64 may beconnected to the cylinder portion of the movement devices 60, 62 or toanother portion of the bale carriage 29. The extension of the rods ofthe movement devices 60, 62 are coordinated to keep the flexible link 64from developing undue slack. As the movement devices 60, 62 move at thesame rates, the movement of the pusher 58 moves at a higher pusherspeed, and more specifically at twice the speed of the movement of themovement devices 60, 62. This advantageously allows the movement devices60, 62 to be generally half of the length (in their retracted position)as the distance traveled by the pusher 58.

Advantageously, the present invention can extend the extending sections50, 51 by the action of the sliding mechanism 54 as the bale 23 ispushed onto either section 50 or section 51. This may be an action thatoccurs on the first use in a field or sections 50 and 51 may be springloaded causing them to retract each time the bales 23 are dumped fromthe bale carriage 29. It is also contemplated that sections 50, 51 maybe extended manually or by an actuator (not shown). Additionally, thecontrol system may sense a sideways tilt of the baler 14 causing thebale 23 to be moved to the uphill side of the baler 14 (if that locationis empty) to thereby improve stability.

Additionally, the platform 56 positions the bale 23 onto the balecarriage 29 and keeps the bale 23 in position as the bale 23 is eithermoved to the side by sliding mechanism 54 or if the bale 23 that isleaving the baler mechanism 18 is to be immediately dropped to theground, then the platform 56 holds a position as the bale carriage 29pivots to dump the bale 23.

While this invention has been described with respect to at least oneembodiment, the present invention can be further modified within thespirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is thereforeintended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the inventionusing its general principles. Further, this application is intended tocover such departures from the present disclosure as come within knownor customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains andwhich fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Various features are set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An agricultural baler having a direction oftravel, the agricultural baler comprising: a baler mechanism; a carriageassembly coupled to the baler mechanism; a platform coupled to at leastone of the baler mechanism and the carriage assembly, the platformconfigured to move a bale from the baler mechanism to the carriageassembly and remain tilted until the bale is moved onto the carriageassembly at least substantially out of contact with the platform; and asliding mechanism coupled to the carriage assembly, the slidingmechanism configured to move the bale on the carriage assembly.
 2. Theagricultural baler of claim 1, wherein the platform is configured to atleast one of lift and tilt the bale.
 3. The agricultural baler of claim2, wherein the platform tilts the bale in a direction opposite of thedirection of travel.
 4. The agricultural baler of claim 1, wherein theplatform is configured to tilt so as to cause the bale to roll towardthe carriage assembly.
 5. The agricultural baler of claim 1, wherein thecarriage assembly includes at least one forward side extending in adirection generally normal to the direction of travel, the platformbeing tiltable so as to move the bale so that a side of the bale is atleast proximate to the forward side of the carriage assembly.
 6. Theagricultural baler of claim 1, wherein the platform is configured totilt and hold the bale beyond the forward side of the carriage assemblysuch that the bale has reduced contact with the forward side while thebale is slid from the platform.
 7. The agricultural baler of claim 1,wherein the carriage assembly is tiltable, the platform being configuredto remain tilted, if the carriage assembly has a full load of bales,until the carriage assembly is tilted and the load of bales isdischarged from the baler.
 8. A carriage assembly coupled to anagricultural baler mechanism having a direction of travel, the carriageassembly comprising: a bale carriage coupled to the baler mechanism; anda platform coupled to at least one of the baler mechanism and the balecarriage, the platform configured to move a bale from the balermechanism to the bale carriage and remain tilted until the bale is movedonto the bale carriage at least substantially out of contact with theplatform.
 9. The carriage assembly of claim 8, wherein the platform isconfigured to at least one of lift and tilt the bale.
 10. The carriageassembly of claim 9, wherein the platform is configured to tilt the balein a direction opposite of the direction of travel.
 11. The carriageassembly of claim 8, wherein the platform is configured to tilt so as tocause the bale to roll toward the bale carriage.
 12. The carriageassembly of claim 8, wherein the bale carriage includes at least oneforward side extending in a direction generally normal to the directionof travel, the platform being tiltable so as to move the bale so that aside of the bale is at least proximate to the forward side of the balecarriage.
 13. The carriage assembly of claim 8, further comprising asliding mechanism coupled to the bale carriage, the sliding mechanismbeing configured to move a bale onto the bale carriage.
 14. The carriageassembly of claim 8, wherein the platform is configured to tilt and holdthe bale beyond the forward side of the bale carriage such that the balehas reduced contact with the forward side while the bale is slid awayfrom the platform.
 15. The carriage assembly of claim 8, wherein thebale carriage is tiltable, the platform being configured to remaintilted, if the bale carriage has a full load of bales, until the balecarriage is tilted and the load of bales is discharged from the baler.16. A method for moving a bale from an agricultural baler to a carriageassembly, the carriage assembly being coupled to a baler mechanismhaving a direction of travel, the method comprising: repositioning aplatform to move a bale from the baler mechanism to the carriageassembly, the platform being coupled to at least one of the balermechanism and the carriage assembly.
 17. The method of claim 16, whereinthe repositioning step includes at least one of lifting and tilting thebale.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the carriage assembly includesat least one forward side extending in a direction generally normal tothe direction of travel, the platform being tiltable so as to move thebale so that a side of the bale is at least proximate to the forwardside of the carriage assembly.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein asliding mechanism is coupled to the carriage assembly, the slidingmechanism being configured to move a bale on the carriage assembly, theplatform being configured to remain tilted until the bale is moved onthe carriage assembly at least substantially out of contact with theplatform.